Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-12
RAILROAD INVESTIGATION.
Hon S. 7. Gags Tries to Tell the Entire
Legislative Story

SAN tsANcIsco, August l1th.-At the opening
OF the Pacific Railway Investigation this morn
ing Geo T Klick, an enpioye in the Secretary 5
olllce, TOOK TIE stand. and testiSed that he had
oeen instructed TO search for the vouchers called
for by the Commission, showing expenditures
by Senator Stanford and OF hers on behalf OF the
, company; He sad he had found all the volch-
ers called for but two. He had searched for
these, but had not shus far found them.
Inc next witness-was n. L. Clement, an en-
GINGER, who entered the employ OF the Central
Paclnc IN 1857 and assisted in tfe construction
of the road. He testiied that he began by as
sisting I. ID. Judah, anC, after his death was
assistant to 5. S, Montague, then Chief Engineer
of the Central Pacific Company The witness
was examined at length, as to the amount of
work done in clearing for tAe road-bed of the
Central Pacific. the cost ot material and the
Classification OF excavations. He described
in oesail the classification of excavation
and the reasons therefor, which was some
what technical. He said the cost of grub
bing was very great, in some eases S5,0oO being
expended on q single mile. The way had to be
cleared Tor 100 feet on each SIDE of the road
where the trees were large and likely to fal over
the track. He recollected several pieces of very
rough gruSbing where 500 men were engaged
ten days in getting the stumps out of mile of
road. The cost of excavating depended very
much on the character of the rock or earth to
be removed. Some of the rock was so hard that
nail dozen shots were necessary to break It.
Mr. Anderson asked il the witness knew of
any reason why the contractor, Charles Croker
was interested in putting up the charge for class
H.
for which the price is very high Mr.. Clement
said Croeker had nothing to do with making the
classitications, and SO far as he knew never paid
any attention to'that subject. From sections i06
to ll3 or 114 there was great deal of rock ex-
cayation. which would explain the great amount
OF this character Of work found in the estimates
for that portion of the road.
stephen T. Gage was called and testified that
he was Assistant to the President of the Central
Pacific, and also one of the Directors of said
road. Mr.. Anderson asked witness about his
connection Iep fr. hos
questions Mr. Gage replied - have been very
friendly with many members OF the Legislature
previous to 1879. Since that time have not at
tended any of the sessions"
Where did you stop when you visited the
Legisature?'
II stopped IN Sacramento"
Whereaboutsin Sacramento"
I" At a hotel"
(Which hotel?'
;. 81 Various hote's, six or seven. perhaps, on
different occasions. If il is of interest TO the
Commission to know where slept during seven
years, could probably tell them accurately"
- Did the Legislators visit you at your rooms T.
about and hunted them up
Did they take dinner with you?'
% did not have any dinner when they called
upon me. If had, 1 should probably have
asked them to dine"
number of vouchers were here shown to
Nh. Gage, and he was asked what he did with
the money they represented. He replied that
he could not be expected to recollect every item
OF that character. The books. he said would
show everything, and he understood that the
Commission had free access TO them.
' Do you ever use any money of the Central
Pacific Railroad Company to influence legisla-
tion?'
1t depends altogether on what Is meant by
influencing legislation My personal expenses
were always paid by the company when at
tended the Legislature. Some people might
consider that as money received for purpose OF
influencing legislation "
Did this expenditure cover anything but
your board and room %
1t only includes aggregate of expenses"
Does aggregate include anything but your
personal eXpenses?'
:. 1t includes all expense that the Central Pa
cifc was put TO by me-"
Mr.. Gage then said: Gentlemen, you have
kept me here beyond my dinner hour. and now
had just as soon stay here until or Q O'Clock.
Now, let me explain about this matter a little
Mr.. Gage then went into the history of all hos
tile legislation that had ever been introduced
against the Central Pacific since the date of its
organization. Occasionally Mr.. Anderson would
make effort to bring the witness back to the
question, bnt was invariably cut short by the
witness, who reiterated the ste tement that he
was bound 10 tell his story.
Before he had half concluded, the Chairman
abruptly declared the meeting adjourned.